LAUGH until you pee

How a baby is made video link

Grins!

Passing the time a long drives

With all the driving Brian and I do together, we have many ways to pass the long highway hours. On our latest sprint to Pennsylvania in back, we got on the topic of famous people who we think are Hotty-McHottisons. It was an interesting list we arrived :-)

I would totally date Duff from Ace of Cakes :-) I think it is my slight favoritism toward bald dudes plus he can cook cakes. Heck, I even think Alton Brown is pretty sexy in a science-y way. However, Mel Gibson has moved off the list but Sean Connery will never be too old to be hot. Ooohhh and then there is David Bromstad from Color Splash. Totally hot with his ripped body and tattoos...and most likely not into women. Oh well. Brian still liked Selma Hayek

Tam's new seat :-)

Tam is finally big enough for the hiking carrier!

I got this one on sale 'round Christmas with the hopes that we could start using it this summer.  I think it will be very handy when I'm in the field this summer checking out plants.   

Currently, Tam is fitting in it on its lowest setting and straps

 ...but that's good 'cause he has lots of room to grow (up to 40lbs).   Tam has his own mini shoulder harness and thigh straps to keep him in tight ad sound.  The front has fully adjustable shoulder and waist straps to help distribute

 the baby's weight.  I have to admit that it was fairly comfortable to wear...much more so than the front carrier for me.  Brian wasn't sure about the color, but I told him it was this or pink that were in stock. And if Tam's grins and squeals are any indication, I think he really likes his new view of the world!

Photo contest for Tam?

OOHHHH....this is too tempting to pass up :-) Here's the contest link

Just for grins, I think I'll enter some Tam pics into the Parents magazine photo contest. I know he only has a very slim chance of possibly winning anything, but what a hoot to try.

Now how to decide what photos? The rules say up to 6 photos, but they must have been taken within one month of submission. And they'll be judged on Appearance of kiddo, personality of kiddo, and quality of photo. (only amateur submissions allowed).

Any suggestions on possible past pics or poses?

One of my current favs is the "Eating Squash face" that's in the post below.

I know this is what Magellon is thinking!

I think I'm done with the boob juice

I think I am done with the breast feeding.  I just can't imagine going on for months!  Lately, Tam has wanted more milk than I'm producing.  Plus, I just can't pump enough at work to keep up with the demand.  In addition, Tam totally getting distracted by everything around him and pulling my nipples is not fun.  The silliest is that Tam will be eating, Brian will walk into the room and start talking, then Tam whips his head around to laugh at daddy! ow! but cute!  I'm trying not to feel like I'm failing, but 5 months is 5 months more than I thought I would tough it out with the hold boob feeding thing.  

So, now I'm clipping formula coupons :-)

5 months and solid food

At Tam's last doctor visit, he suggested starting solids anytime we felt like it. I watched Tam and he was totally giving us cues that he was ready for something more than a bottle. He would stare hard-core at us while we were eating dinner. And even starting opening his mouth when he saw us do the same. About 3 weeks ago, we started rice cereal. Brian had purchased white, brown, and oat baby cereal and we eventually tried all three. Our dude LOVED cereal. We began with really watery stuff and eventually built up to oatmeal-like mush. He now gets about 1/2 cup of cereal each day or so.

Eating solid food has taught us some new things. I very quickly learned that I should put a bib on Tam first. Food made it eventually down Tam's throat, but quite a bit ended up on his chin, shirt, hands, pants, hair. Tam still has some tongue-thrust reflex so Bib = good idea to help control goop on front. Then I learned that I should keep a VERY good grip on the bowl. During our third try in the high-chair eating, Tam went smack on the bowl and mush landed on the floor. Lastly, more food means that Tam is sleeping even better at night. I know that there is not much hard-core scientific data that solids cause babies to sleep more. However, my data totally shows that more food in belly, especially a larger bottle at dinner, means that Tam sleeps from 8pm until 4am. Yeah!

We have since tried a week of mashed bananas (My choice). Tam wasn't sure about them at first, but since really liked them. He also liked trying to actually pick up the banana pieces from the tray.

This week we are trying butternut squash (Brian's choice). Tam totally did not like the first few bites! We tried again today with more success.